Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
“How do you know what’s going on here?” I mutter, my tone of voice coming down a notch.
“Jett is out there half the time, helping Toren. Indy is there with him, which means Alex is around. People talk and tend to notice things,” Sable explains with laughter in her voice.
“Christ, it’s like I’m still living in a small town,” I reply.
“You are from a small town.” She’s not wrong. Even before she moved to Whispering Oaks, the town we grew up in was postage-stamp sized.
“Seattle is vastly bigger than where you live, and yet somehow, gossip still travels.” I shake my head. Seraphina reenters my line of sight. Her blouse shifts with the movement, giving me another glimpse of the curve of her breast. My cock jerks in my pants. God help me, I can’t keep my body from reacting where she’s concerned.
“You’re staring at her right now, aren’t you?” Sable sighs dramatically into the phone.
“She’s walking back to her desk.” The words slip from my mouth without intending to.
“My god, you’re hopeless.” My mouth twitches. Seraphina bends slightly, no idea the reason why, but the view I get of her heart-shaped ass is right there for the taking. “Go after her, Rafe. Because if you keep dancing around this, eventually, someone will get hurt. She’ll find someone else, you’ll end up alone, and both of you will think about all the should-haves, could-haves, and would-haves.” The amusement drains from her voice. That’s exactly the problem. Seraphina deserves stability and safety. A man who doesn’t wake up in a cold sweat from nightmares of his past.
“Not a good idea.”
“I know you care about her.” I move my eyes away from Seraphina and to the tablet she left on my desk. “And I know that every time you convince yourself you’re protecting others by shutting them out, you only end up angry and alone.” The silence settles heavily between us. Seraphina appears at my door. The look on her face is softer, not a teasing hint to be seen. In its place is concern, and that’s somehow worse.
“Have you always been this irritating?” I release a breath.
“Yes.” Sable’s answer has a smile tugging at my mouth.
“There’s my brother.” How she’s able to figure me out from thousands of miles away is only something a sister could know.
“Don’t start.”
“Rafe, man up. Shit or get off the pot, if you will.” I bark out a laugh.
“Is that your professional advice, Sab?” Seraphina is still waiting to gain entrance to my office, tilting her head to the side, and I keep my eyes firmly locked on her.
“Sisterly advice. Now I’ve gotta go. Love you, grumpy bear.” I lean back in my chair, phone pressed between my ear and shoulder, nodding at Seraphina to come back inside.
“Love you, too.” I hang up just as Seraphina puts one foot in front of the other and walks toward me. What I wouldn’t give to demand she shut and lock the door behind her, beckon her to stand between me and my desk, and watch as she slides her sexy self onto the wood. I’d wait until she couldn’t stand it anymore before I finally touch her sweet-as-sin skin. Fuck, today is going to be torture, and I’m the only one who keeps asking for more.
4
SERAPHINA
The second I step into my apartment, I kick the door shut, flip the lock on the deadbolt, and slide the chain into place. I let out a long, exhausted breath. Today was a doozy, one filled with being on the edge of desire. I didn’t know if I should drop to my knees for Rafe or rush to the bathroom and take care of myself. I didn’t do either. Instead, he grunted at me and sent heated looks my way, that’s when we were by ourselves. The moment a person got within earshot, Rafe Montero did a complete one-eighty. I could handle my boss’ grumpy side. The one that pretended I wasn’t around? Yeah, that was a kick to the ego.
It was only when I saw the glimpse of him talking to his sister on the phone that I saw him let his guard down. I also realized the tired look in his eyes wasn’t due to his heavy work load but something deep and personal. When he got off the phone, I grabbed my tablet, told him I’d order lunch, and didn’t stick around. My panties were uncomfortably wet, plus I’m pretty sure I pushed him enough for one day.
I make my way through my apartment to open a few curtains, letting the last bit of daylight filter through the windows. It makes my apartment feel a little less lonely, which I need tonight. My nerves are frayed, and not because of Rafe barking orders or being the disgruntled grizzly bear. Oh no, that would be easy to handle.